Start-Up (2020)

There was so much promise...

Honestly, I was super excited for this drama and as soon as I saw the trailer I decided not to watch ANYTHING until every episode had been aired. When I finally got the chance to sit down and start watching it however the excitement I once had disappeared just like the plot of this drama.

The main problem with this drama is that the first few episodes started on a high. From the very beginning, it had a very promising theme, storyline along with some great actors. The problem with starting off well, however, is that if you don't keep building on that high it's super easy to slip and in this case, the drama slipped and fell down the rabbit hole of disappointment.

After episode 5, everything really started to crash and burn. I've listed below just a few of the reason why this happened:
1. Main male lead kinda annoyed me – he whined a lot, felt sorry for himself and got a bit dramatic.
2. Some scenes just felt so irrelevant and others were just awkward to watch.
3. I rarely ever skip past the romance scenes of the main characters, but in this case, I did because they just weren't it.
4. SOOOOO much wasted potential with quite a few characters development.
5. Uncomfortably predictable story - Mainly because I really didn't enjoy the drawn-out love triangle and just didn't want it to end the way it did.
6. Sign me up for the inaccurate way they portray start-ups where no-one really has any business experience

Don't get me wrong the reasons I have listed above plus many others (which would be spoilers so I won't divulge any more) are why I will probably never watch this drama again. But if you haven't watched it I would still recommend it for the things that were done right during this drama:
1. Kim Seon Ho who hands down was one of the best actors/characters during this drama
2. The development of some of the characters relationships with each other did leave me feeling a bit emosh
3. It was nice to watch visually – the shots were great and it did have a lot of cinematic appeal
4. I know I've mentioned it before but it deserves to be mentioned again – Kim Seon Ho!

At the end of the day, I don't regret watching this drama, but there was so much wasted potential. They had some many chances to flip the script and create a unique and interesting ending. Instead, it became predictable and similar to basically every basic romantic k-drama.

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Only Kim Seon Ho saved this disastrous drama with the worst storyline & the worst ML & FL!!

Writer & the show makers tried so hard to sell their boring, bland & a spoiled brat ML Nam Do Dan but failed miserably!! The so called romance angle between the main leads was a pain for my eyes to watch. There was ZERO chemistry between the main leads!!!! I hate that arrogant, spoiled brat Nam Do San so much! He has such a violent aggressive personality that I wanted to slap his face hard so many times. Just like spoiled brats when you don't give them a chocolates they crave & they start throwing tantrums? Our weak ML Nam Do San is just like that spoiled brat. He will start breaking tables & chairs & out of nowhere will start punching someone for no reason! His sense of inferiority & jealousy & insecurity is too much! Okay I am done with my rant now. The only saving grace of this horribly executed, terribly wtitten script with expressionless ML & FL, is none other than our GOOD BOY HAN JIPYEONG!!

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how it ends

was super hyped for start up from the beggining from the tearful scenes of their past to the present battle they have to face due to the comeback of their past events, but now in the latest episode i've been really frustrated on how the whole team of dalmi acts (sam sam tech)

1. not consulting their mentor with such a major investment
2. half of them don't even see him as a mentor but a rival.
3. i'm dissapointed with the episode 12 preview of Nam Do San picking a fight with Han Ji Pyeong.
4. And now they're pointing fingers at eachother because the plan went downhill.
5. Ji Pyeong has been guiding them the whole time, i personally can say that without Ji Pyeong the company would go downhill just like what happened in the recent ep of them signing off their company.

i have a lot more but i just want to express that my heartaches for Ji Pyeong, i've been team Ji Pyeong from the start and yes its predictable that they wont end up together in the end no matter how much i stress that they should be. Ji Pyeong dispite from being an orphan (which yes affects people a lot) and going through a ton of life difficulties at a very young age grew up to be the man he is today, an overall better man for Dal Mi than Do San; Mature, Loyal, Stable he even confessed to Dal Mi about his Feelings but he expected nothing in return he patiently just waited never pressured her, He is Wise for his age despite the circumstances he faced and i personally think that he is better man for dalmi in a landslide.

I Hope we get some clarifications on the next episodes i personally just want to watch Halmeoni and Ji Pyeong now,,, i hope the problem with sam sam tech would be fixed and they would realize they should put their ego aside.

may update this review after sometime later xx

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Misleading title, it's a tragic story a selfless person who suffers all over for being honest & kind

I got recommended this on netflix and started watching expecting a story about passionate people chasing dreams. I completely misjudged. Was surprised but impressed with the emotional impact of first episode. Apart from that, the only watchable episodes are during which the leads participate in Hackathon at Sandbox- the fictional startup incubator. Everything else is about the love-story, which shows us all wrong reasons or no reasons at all to fall in love with a person. There is no real love through communication between Dalmi and Do San, it's all physical and horny. Dalmi completely ignores the person whom she was able to have meaningful conversations through letters in her childhood after she finds out who the person is, and is shown to miraculously forget about all of it in one episode. The end result is that you are most likely to drop the drama after running out of patience as there really is no redemption or character development for Dalmi-DoSan, who continue to exploit HanJipyeong at every possible opportunity, only to discard him after their job is done.
The only saving grace is top-notch action from Kim Seon Ho, who will make you root for him in every scene he appears, only to receive insults and injustice from other characters(except Grandma) and break our hearts. Idk what the writer wanted to convey, but the message I got through the story of Jipyeong is that it isn't worth always being kind to people, as they'll end up taking you for granted and even exploit you to the point where you're left with nothing.
I watched until episode 12 and after that only scenes of HJP as the lead-pair became truly annoying and the story easily predictable.

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don't waste your time watching this

plot: in the first episode you are faced with an incredible story that promises to have everything to be one of the best dramas of the year but soon after you are immensely disappointed with everything, you hear a huge focus on a love triangle that didn’t even exist since dalmi only had a development with dosan, they forgot about business, letters, family and everything else that was good

characters: the secondary ones were much more interesting than the main ones, injae had almost no screen time and still managed to be a better character than dalmi. jipyeong carried the drama on his back even though he had a script that didn't value him and just made him emotional punching bag

ost: the only good part that I have no complaints about

actors: I really decided to watch the drama because I really like suzy, but it was only worth it because I met Kim Seonho

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Push and Pull of Disturbing Relationship and One in a Million Company

First, Start Up's first look brings its theme: to make people believe and fight for their dream. Start-Up talks about youth's passion for participating in changing lifestyle through their fresh ideas in the digital company. In a way, some parts from this drama support the purpose, but just like another 'feel-good' drama, there is much more comfort zone portrayed in the story: the 'luckiness' and comfortable environment.

This drama's problem is that it feels confused about distributing the plot's ratio between romance and a slice of life about business and economic values. Also, maybe I can be too analytical and pessimistic, but the main character has convinced me it's a toxic relationship. The closure doesn't convince me otherwise enough.

I'll point one of the biggest reasons I think so. During the conflict with his father, Nam Dosan said that he doesn't want to be his trophy and pride, making him feel obligated to meet certain expectations. Clearly, what happened in their family is quite bad. No freedom for Dosan to think of himself since he won the Math Olympiad. However, he said the same line to Dalmi. The reason is that he feels good about Dalmi to boast about him? Why? Is it because he loves her? Doesn't he think it would turn out worse since family love and relationship one are different? Whoa, I am disappointed.

As for Han Jipyeong, I think he makes such a strong impression that everybody has second lead syndrome now. I don't know what to comment about him. I really think his relationship with Grandma is really precious and makes the drama heartwarming. Not everything is about money. I too, think, he is he rightful one to claim as Dalmi's love. However, most of the act in the present that comforts Dalmi at the moment is for Dosan so fair enough. Jipyeong would always be Dalmi's first love right?

I am glad I finished this actually, I think I would drop it. Thanks for this drama, I get more glimpse of business and I can't wait to start mine, maybe?

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Uma pena

Acho que os atores mereciam algo melhor para expor seu trabalho.

Achei que a trama fosse tomar um rumo mais racional mesmo sendo uma fantasia, mas quando a fantasia tende a trabalhar a realidade os escritores precisam respeitar a inteligência das pessoas.
A mentira do processo eu aceito mas o desenrolar dela para o crescimento dos personagens é ridículo.
O protagonista ficar de bode expiatório enquanto os outros envolvidos (avó e secundário) passeiam sem culpa até o último episódio é irritante.

Achei estranho pois os Coreanos são melhores que os Chineses nesse ponto na maioria das vezes.

O único inocente é sacrificado;

Quando você descobre uma mentira o que você quer depois? Saber como tudo começou! Quem e porque começou.

Isso deve ser pela falta de habilidade de percepção dos asiáticos que são muito engessados na forma de interpretar.

Gostaria muito que os escritores asiáticos trabalhassem com os ocidentais para perceberem outras facetas do ser humano.

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Didn't liked it..

Nung una, isa ako sa mga atat na atat everytime may bagung release na episode, Eto talaga ung unang inabanagan ko,
sabi ko may potential,
kaso nawalan na ako ng gana bandang gitna, kasi habang tumatagal pa boring ng pa boring ang story niya.
Yung ML din nakaka asar sobra.. no offense but it seems to me, Masyadu siyang pa "victim" at laging mukhang kawawa.
OK pa nung may competition between the two, pero nung pinakita na na siya pla talaga ang gustu ng bida. eh di sya nah!
That's when it started to get boring..
Mas maganda talaga kung yung SML ang nakatuluyan nya, dahil sila naman talaga nung umpisa.. Yung story ni ateh girl yung focus nung umpisa, then ni SML (second male lead). Tapos biglang in the end sila pla ni DOsan..

HIndi ko talaga nagustuhan yung story. kaya sorry po, hindi ko na pinanuod ang last 2 eps.. tinamad na talaga ako.

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A resounding 10 for Han Ji Pyung, Halmoni and their love story

I had so much overwhelming excitement for this drama after watching the first two episodes. I held on to that excitement and waited till the drama ended before I binge-watched it these past two days. What I thought was a brilliant concept of story turned into a complete dud. Disappointment is an understatement.

From the beginning, I rooted for Ji Pyung to be the hero who would win Dal Mi' heart in the end. As I watched the succeeding episodes, my mind never wavered as Ji Pyung shown himself to be a selfless gem of a human being. I cherished his scenes with halmoni. They adored each other and the love between them was so pure that Dal Mi's and Do San's pathetic romance paled in comparison. I still believe that he should have been the main character. After watching 12 1/2 episodes, I conclude that he is too good for the likes of ditzy, strong girl turned damsel in distress Dal Mi. She and equally, stupid, cry baby, whiney with anger management issues Do San, deserved each other.

Why the writer thought that Do San was every girl's ideal of a boyfriend was beyond comprehension. There were zero redeeming qualities with this man. He's got loving parents who continued to support him through thick and thin, two very loyal friends, opportunities that opened to him and I might add through Ji Pyung's effort , the fact that the main girl fell for him, and yet, he continually crowed about "poor, nothing me." The love triangle that this writer dragged on for the entire drama was just tooooooo boring and irritating. It's laughable that the only reason Dal Mi fell in love with Do San was that he's got big hands (double entendre). How very shallow and that's how the writer portrayed Dal Mi's feelings for Do San. Dal Mi fell in love with Ji Pyungs letters that sustained her through the death of her father at a young age, the abandonment of her mother and the feelings of being lost and lonely. It's unbelievable that she'd throw all those memories for someone like Do San, who she hardly knew except that he's got big hands. This writer insulted the audiences' intelligence with this ludicrous trope. The fact that most viewers rooted for Ji Pyung and thus, the sudden popularity of Kim Sun Ho attests that they're not stupid after all.

The most dangerous message of this drama, especially to young audiences is that bad behaviour like punching your mentor, insulting him, disregarding his advice, being an inexperienced know-it-all is perfectly acceptable even if it's not based on reality. First of all, punching your mentor will land you in jail and you will be dismissed from the company, second of all, you don't negotiate a 3 billion won contract without seeking the advice of said mentor and a competent lawyer specializing in contracts, third, you don't whine and complain and act like an immature person after signing a bad contract through no one's fault but yourself for being that stupid. Somehow, the writer glossed over these realities and painted a romanticized. la la land version.

Did I say that Do San's two best friends were just so irritating? Whenever they're in a scenes, it's like watching fingernails dragging across a chalkboard. Their screeching and stupidly emotional outbursts should have been toned down.

I was ready to hate Won In Jae but surprisingly, I liked her better than Dal Mi. She's got a good head for business, not driven by emotions in her business decisions and actually a good person. She was given a bad rap by the writer to make Dal Mi's character shine through but it was a poor attempt. In Jae endured the way her stepfather treated her in order to protect her mother. She developed a cold facade to protect herself from being hurt but towards the latter episodes, her good character appeared when she owned up to her lies. I wished that the drama revolved more around her and Ji Pyung because that would have been more realistic than the shallow, romanticized version of Dal Mi and Do San.

Will I watch it again? I will finish watching the rest of the episodes only for Ji Pyung and halmoni and then relegate this drama to the dustbin of history. I will forever cherish the scenes between Ji Pyung and Halmoni and maybe, watch them over and over again when I feel a need for a picker upper, especially the scene in the train station, Ji Pyung presenting himself to halmoni after 15 years, Ji Pyung crying his heart out when he found out halmoni is losing her sight and halmoni lovingly cradling his face, and every scene with the two of them. Did I say I love their bickering?

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